Reunion

 Hi PJ,

I wanted you to know that I just finished your book and enjoyed it very much. You always had such fun with words and this was still was very evident in Stashes. There was a combination of complexity and playfulness that reminded me of the Patti I used to know.
When I read the part about Jackie and Amy baking in the school cafeteria kitchen I pictured the cafeteria kitchen at MHS that we used for various fundraisers and such. Then I thought that maybe you did too when writing this.
Also, visiting the diorama at Gettysburg on a school trip to the nations capital was something that we certainly did. And, the only Avonelle that I have known in my 6- years was one that graduated with us in 19–!
Please let me know when your next book is out! This was fun.

Your old friend, Nancy
Sent from my iPad

This complimentary reminiscence arrived via email, preceding the mailed invitation to my high school reunion by a few days. Nancy got my email address from STASHES, an additional boon of my book. Bliss-out, Boomer! We had reignited our relationship, beyond pictures of grandkids and travel report one-liners in the obligatory Christmas card. I was enticed into longing, a need to hug and chat with my hsbff.

The numerals on the reunion invitation seemed like a neon-lighted lie, leering at me with unblinking truth: I was old. Even the bid from AARP and Social Security hadn’t tsunamied me with the same feeling wave.

Not so long ago I was a precocious smiling youth nimbly awaiting a way out of that tiny, claustrophobic town into anywhere my wings could be spread. I went to college and never looked back. I’ve done STASHES of stuff since then.

I remain a smiling, precocious youth in my heart…and my husband and I are making plans. We have many family and friends within a days’ drive of the reunion site. We have that winsome youth from yesteryear to reassure, too – we made it, we did well, we made ourselves and others proud. We held our own hands, so now we can high-five – and see what STASHES of stuff our long ago peers have done. I’m sure they did well for themselves, too, and I am eager to hear.

What about you, Constant Reader? Up for a reunion experience?! What should I wear? Besides my ever-cheery smile, of course!